Wireless sensor wire system

ABSTRACT

A sensor wire system is provided. The system includes a sensor wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted. Associated devices and methods are also provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/364,972, filed Feb. 12, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Consequently, there are numerous medications, medical procedures, and medical devices aimed at diagnosing and treating heart disease.

One type of medical procedure aimed at diagnosing heart disease is angiography. The procedure requires injecting a contrast agent into the blood stream and then taking x-rays to determine if there is a blockage within the blood vessel. A problem with an angiography is that the procedure can only determine if a blockage exists, but not whether the blockage is actually affecting the blood flow within the blood vessel. As a result, many patients elect to have unnecessary procedures to treat the blockage without confirming the severity of the blockage.

Another procedure for assessing heart disease is fractional flow reserve (FFR). FFR is a technique used in coronary catheterization to measure the pressure difference and thus blood flow across a partially blocked or constricted artery. Using a guidewire system, measurements are taken on both sides of a blockage within a blood vessel to determine if there is a pressure gradient or reduced blood flow due to the blockage. If there is no drop in pressure (or a nominal drop), then there may be no need for further medical intervention because the blockage is not significantly impeding the flow of blood. Conversely, if there is a significant drop across the blockage, then the blockage may need to be removed or treated because the blood flow is impaired by the blockage.

Generally, the FFR procedure is performed by inserting a guidewire system into the femoral or radial artery of the patient. The guidewire is maneuvered into position within a partially blocked blood vessel, and a sensor at the distal end of the guidewire is used to measure pressure, temperature, and/or blood flow to determine the severity of the blockage. The sensor is connected to a display device such as a monitor of a computer screen to display the patient's readings during the procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A problem with some sensor devices is that they must be physically connected to both a power source and display device during the procedure. These requirements limit the range and mobility during the procedure and create wire management challenges. They require the operator to manipulate the sensor devices so that they are properly located in the patient. The electrical connectors must be uncovered or cleaned for connection to display and data processing devices. This adds extra steps and may involve breaches of the procedure's sterile field.

The present invention is directed to a preferably single-use sensor wire system and method that can have both an integrated power source and integrated antenna for wireless transmission.

In general according to one aspect, the invention features a sensor wire system. It comprises a sensor wire body having a distal end that is inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, a sensor that is mounted at the distal end of the sensor wire body, an electronics unit of the distal end of the sensor wire body that wireles sly transmits information generated by the sensor to a receiver unit outside of the patient, and a power source that supplies power to the electronics unit.

In preferred embodiments, the sensor is a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and/or a blood flow sensor. In other examples, it is an imaging device, such as an IVUS, FLIVUS, OCT, spectroscopic, ICE, or forward looking ICE analysis device, with encoded images from the imaging device being broadcast to the receiver unit.

In one embodiment, the power source is a power harvesting device, such as one that converts the cyclic pressure changes of surrounding blood into power to the electronics unit. In other cases, the power source is a battery, such as a battery that is activated upon insertion into the patient and that powers the electronics unit until the power source is depleted.

In general according to another aspect, the invention features a method of using a sensor wire. This comprises inserting a sensor wire body having a distal end into a blood vessel of a patient, mounting a sensor to the distal end of the sensor wire body, supplying power to an electronics unit, and transmitting information generated by the sensor to a receiver unit via the electronics unit.

In an exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a sensor wire system. The sensor wire system includes a sensor wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wireles sly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted.

In some embodiments, the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna. In some embodiments, the sensor wire body is configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information. In some embodiments, the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit. In some embodiments, the electronics unit includes: a sensor control circuit configured to perform at least one of processing a signal associated with the intravascular information or encoding the signal for wireless transmission; a radio frequency circuit configured to perform at least one of wirelessly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency or varying the frequency at which the signal is wireles sly transmitted; and a signal amplifier circuit configured to amplify the signal prior to being wirelessly transmitted. In some embodiments, the electronics unit is configured to vary the frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted based on a frequency of another device. In some embodiments, the system further comprises the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a computer system in communication with the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the computer system is in communication with at least one of: a display device configured to display a visual representation of the intravascular information; a storage medium configured to store the intravascular information; or a printer configured to generate a printout of the intravascular information. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device.

In an exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of sensing intravascular information. The method includes obtaining intravascular information associated a blood vessel of a patient using a sensor wire system, the sensor wire system including: a sensor wire body positioned within the blood vessel and having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the senor wire body; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information; and wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information, using the electronics unit, to a receiver unit outside of the patient; and varying, using the electronics unit, a frequency at which the intravascular information is wireles sly transmitted.

In some embodiments, the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna. In some embodiments, wireles sly transmitting the intravascular information includes wireles sly transmitting the intravascular information using the sensor wire body. In some embodiments, the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit. In some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of: processing a signal associated with the intravascular information data using the sensor control circuit; encoding the signal for wireless transmission, using the sensor control circuit; wirelessly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency, using the radio frequency circuit; varying the frequency at which the signal is wireles sly transmitted, using the radio frequency circuit; or amplifying the signal prior to being wireles sly transmitted, using the signal amplifier circuit. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving the intravascular information at the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving the intravascular information at a computer system in communication with the receiver unit. In some embodiments, the method further includes at least one of: displaying a visual representation of the intravascular information using a display device in communication with the computer system; storing the intravascular information on a storage medium in communication with the computer system; or generating a printout of the intravascular information using a printer in communication with the computer system. In some embodiments, the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device. In some embodiments, the varying a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted is based on a frequency of another device such that the sensor wire system and the another device operate without interference.

The above and other features of the invention including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, and other advantages, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular method and device embodying the invention are shown by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; emphasis has instead been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a sensor wire inserted into a patient's body.

FIG. 2 schematic cross-sectional view showing a sensor wire within a partially blocked blood vessel of a patient that is wirelessly transmitting information to a receiver.

FIG. 3 is schematic cross-sectional view showing the distal end of a sensor wire with a protective sheath.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the distal end of the sensor wire.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the distal end of the sensor wire according to another embodiment using a reserve battery power source.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronics unit in the distal end of the sensor wire with a battery power source at the proximal end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a sensor wire 104 that is inserted into a patient's body 102.

In operation, the sensor wire system 104 is inserted into the artery, such as the femoral artery, of a patient 102 and guided through the blood vessels until arriving at a potentially partially blocked blood vessel of interest within the patient's body 102, such as a coronary artery. In alternative embodiments, the sensor wire 104 is inserted via the radial or other artery, or vein. In other applications, other arteries or veins are the vessels of interest.

FIG. 2 illustrates the sensor wire system 104 within a partially blocked blood vessel of a patient 102 that is wirelessly transmitting information to a receiver 218. In one embodiment, the sensor wire 104 measures pressure, blood flow, and/or temperature within the blood vessel 202 of the patient 102. Typically, the distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 is inserted through the femoral artery and guided to the blocked blood vessel 202 by holding the sensor wire body. Steering the sensor wire 104 within the blood vessels is often performed by manually manipulating the proximal end 214 of the sensor wire body 105 or using a separate guide wire.

Once in position, the sensor 212 measures pressure, blood flow and/or temperature and encodes the information in the form of electrical signals. In a preferred embodiment the sensor 212 includes a pressure transducer, a flow detector, and a temperature transducer.

In other embodiments, the sensor 212 further includes an imaging system. In one example, the sensor 212 included an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device. In another variant, the sensor 212 includes a forward-looking IVUS (FLIVUS) device. In still other embodiments, the sensor 212 includes optical coherence tomography (OCT), near infrared spectroscopic, intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), and forward looking ICE devices.

The electrical signals generated by the sensor 212 are relayed to the electronics unit 210, which processes the signals. The information is then wirelessly transmitted to an external receiver 218. The sensor wire body 105 is preferably fabricated from conductive materials such that the sensor wire body 105 operates as a radio frequency antenna capable of broadcasting the information to the external receiver 218.

Depending on the implementation, the sensor signals broadcast from the antenna are the encoded time-varying pressure, flow, and temperature detected by the sensor 212.

In the cases where the sensor 212 includes an imaging modality, the broadcast sensor signals are encoded images from the IVUS, FLIVUS, OCT, spectroscopic, ICE, or forward looking ICE analysis.

Additionally, a power source 208 of the sensor wire system 104 supplies power to the electronics unit 210 and possibly the sensor 212 depending on the sensor technology used. In a typical implementation, the power source is a battery. However, in other embodiments, one or more storage capacitors supply the power requirements.

In a one embodiment, the battery power source 208 includes an anode and a cathode, but initially lacks the necessary electrolyte needed to complete a battery. In operation, the power source 208 is activated by injecting an electrolyte 216 into the sensor wire 104 or between the sensor wire 104 and a surrounding protective sheath. The electrolyte reacts with the anode and cathode to create a battery. Once the power source 210 is activated, the sensor wire system 104 wireles sly transmits the information generated by the sensor 212 until the power source 208 is exhausted.

In still another embodiment, the power for the electronics unit 210 is provided by a power harvesting system that converts the biological motion of the patient into power. In one example, the power source 208, or possibly the sensor wire body 105 itself, includes a piezo-electric power source that converts the cyclic pressures changes of the surrounding blood into electricity that powers the electronics unit 210.

The receiver 218 is connected to a display device 220 that displays the information on a screen. The display device is part of a computer system or medical workstation that includes a storage medium and printer to generate a printout of the information as well as to store a copy for future analysis.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the distal end of a sensor wire 104 with a protective sheath 206.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor wire 104 is contained within a protective sheath 206. The sheath 206 isolates the sensor 212, electronics unit 210 and power source 208, and wire body 105 from the patient's body 102. In alternative embodiments, however, the sensor wire 104 will not have a protective sheath.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor 212 is located in the tip of the distal end of the sensor wire 104. The sensor 212 generates pressure, blood flow and/or temperature information, usually in the form of electrical signals generated by a transducer. The electrical signals from the sensor 212 are sent to the electronics unit 210. The electrical signals are processed by the sensor control circuit 224 and encoded for transmission to the external receiver 218 and displayed on the screen 220.

The radio frequency (RF) circuit 226 is designed to wireles sly broadcast the information via the sensor wire body 105 at a specific frequency. In an alternative embodiment, the RF circuit allows the frequency to be varied so that multiple sensor wires operate at different frequencies in close spectral proximately without creating interference.

The electronics control unit 210 further includes a signal amplifier circuit 222 to amplify the signal prior to being wirelessly broadcast to the receiver 218.

An added benefit is that the sensor wire 104 can be used as a guidewire. Catheters can be threaded over the sensor wire 104. This process is facilitated by the fact that there are no electrical connections to the external receiver.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 according to another embodiment.

In this example, the power source 208 is a reserve battery. These are devices that are commonly used in ordinance, for example. Reserve batteries are activated by addition of material or a change in temperature, the activator 250. With this addition or change, then the reserve battery 208 delivers current for several minutes to hours.

In one example, the activator 250 is water or other fluid that functions as an electrolyte causing the battery 208 to begin delivering current and thus power the electronics unit 210. The medical professional, in one example, injects the activator material 250 into the battery or breaks a bladder or capsule filled with the material, which then flows into the battery. In another example the activator is a gas that is either the active cathode material or part of the electrolyte.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the electronics unit 210 in the distal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104 according to another embodiment, in which the reserve battery 208 is located at the proximal end 215 of the sensor wire system 104. This embodiment has the advantage that the reserve battery 208 can be activated by the operator/surgeon only after the wire system 104 has been placed in the patient. Wires 209 extending through the system 104 carry the current from the reserve battery 208 at the proximal end 214 to the electronics unit 210 at the distal end 215.

In another example, the reserve battery 208 is wire shaped extending through the length of the sensor wire system 104. In some examples, the wire-shaped reserve battery provides mechanical support for the system 104.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A sensor wire system, comprising: a sensor wire body configured to be inserted into a blood vessel of a patient, the sensor wire body having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the sensor wire body and configured to obtain intravascular information associated with the blood vessel; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information to a receiver unit outside of the patient, wherein the electronics unit is further configured to vary a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor wire body is configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit.
 5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit includes: a sensor control circuit configured to perform at least one of processing a signal associated with the intravascular information or encoding the signal for wireless transmission; a radio frequency circuit configured to perform at least one of wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency or varying the frequency at which the signal is wirelessly transmitted; and a signal amplifier circuit configured to amplify the signal prior to being wirelessly transmitted.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronics unit is configured to vary the frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted based on a frequency of another device.
 7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: the receiver unit.
 8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising: a computer system in communication with the receiver unit.
 9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the computer system is in communication with at least one of: a display device configured to display a visual representation of the intravascular information; a storage medium configured to store the intravascular information; or a printer configured to generate a printout of the intravascular information.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device.
 11. A method of sensing intravascular information, comprising: obtaining intravascular information associated a blood vessel of a patient using a sensor wire system, the sensor wire system including: a sensor wire body positioned within the blood vessel and having a distal portion; a sensor coupled to the distal portion of the senor wire body; and an electronics unit coupled to the sensor wire body and configured to wirelessly transmit the intravascular information; and wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information, using the electronics unit, to a receiver unit outside of the patient; and varying, using the electronics unit, a frequency at which the intravascular information is wireles sly transmitted.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor wire body comprises a radio frequency antenna.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information includes wirelessly transmitting the intravascular information using the sensor wire body.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the electronics unit includes at least one of a sensor control circuit, a radio frequency circuit, or a signal amplifier circuit.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least one of: processing a signal associated with the intravascular information data using the sensor control circuit; encoding the signal for wireless transmission, using the sensor control circuit; wireles sly transmitting the signal at a particular frequency, using the radio frequency circuit; varying the frequency at which the signal is wirelessly transmitted, using the radio frequency circuit; or amplifying the signal prior to being wireles sly transmitted, using the signal amplifier circuit.
 16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: receiving the intravascular information at the receiver unit.
 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: receiving the intravascular information at a computer system in communication with the receiver unit.
 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising at least one of: displaying a visual representation of the intravascular information using a display device in communication with the computer system; storing the intravascular information on a storage medium in communication with the computer system; or generating a printout of the intravascular information using a printer in communication with the computer system.
 19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or an imaging device.
 20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the varying a frequency at which the intravascular information is wirelessly transmitted is based on a frequency of another device such that the sensor wire system and the another device operate without interference. 